RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Apr 10, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 512 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,984. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER WERE INSTALLED, THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
10578942
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
139,984 mi
Engine
Filed May 27, 2013

MISFIRING, EXHAUST LEAKING BECAUSE OF COMMON PROBLEM (EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN) MANY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE V8 ENGINES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10513618
Incident
May 27, 2013
Mileage
210,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2012

TWO EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM TO FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, THIS PREMATURE BOLT BREAKAGE PROBLEM IS COSTING CONSUMERS MILLIONS IN REPAIR COSTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10477074
Incident
Sep 25, 2012
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2008

EVERY MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A "CLICKING" NOISE. IT INCREASES IN SPEED WITH RPM. ONCE HITS 2000 (OR SO) RPM, NOISE WILL STOP. NOISE WILL ALSO QUIT AFTER 5 MINS OF IDLE. CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE TEMP, HOWEVER IS BETTER IN AZ SUMMER MONTHS. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ALL IDEAS/SOLUTIONS WELCOME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10224596
Incident
Apr 15, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 7, 2008

I HAVE A 2001 TAHOE WITH A 350 MOTOR IN IT WITH 136,000. IT BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PULLEY, BUT AFTER TAKING THE VALVE COVERS OFF IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NOISE WAS LOUDER AND THE OIL SUPPLY TO THE HEADS WAS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO PUT A USED MOTOR IN IT FOR $3,000 (71,000 MILES). THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHY THIS HAPPENED AND I DID MY PART BY MAINTAINING MY VEHICLE ON TIME EVERY TIME IT NEEDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I AM SICK ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214113
Incident
Jan 3, 2008
Mileage
136,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2007

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2001 CHEVY TAHOE AND WITHIN FIRST 3 MONTHS NOTICED OIL LEVEL WAS LOWER THAN EXPECTED. BEGAN 'OIL CONSUMPTION' TEST WITH TRACY DEALERSHIP THAT EXTENDED INTO 2004 UNTIL THEY FINALLY AGREED 2 TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE...ALL 3 YEARS WAS ONGOING OIL LOSS WITHIN THE ENGINE! THEY ONLY WENT 2 THE CYLINDER HEADS DESPITE SEVERAL REQUESTS BY EXPERT MECHANIC'S ADVICE 2 GO FURTHER INTO THE PISTON LEVEL. TRACY CHEVROLET REPORTED THEIR FINDINGS AS 'PARTS MISSING FROM CYLINDER HEADS FROM ORIGINAL ENGINE ASSEMBLY'. GM'S CEO PROMISED 2 REPLACE MY ENGINE IF THE OIL CONSUMPTION WASN'T FIXED. WITHIN 1 MONTH OF THAT REPAIR, OIL LOSS CONTINUED. ANOTHER 'OIL CONSUMPTION' TEST SCENARIO WAS ESTABLISHED AND ANOTHER 3 YEARS PASSED WITH ME REPORTING 2 THEM EVERY 500 MILES FOR OIL LEVEL CHECKS. AGAIN, 3 YEARS PASSED BEFORE THEY FINALLY DECIDED 2 TEAR THE ENGINE DOWN AGAIN. (3/7/07). THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE FINE SO GM RECOMMENDED THAT THEY GO DOWN 2 THE PISTON LEVEL (SOUND FAMILIAR??) WHERE THEY FOUND ANOTHER MISSING PART FROM ORIGINAL FACTORY ASSEMBLY! (OIL CONTROL RINGS) THEY TRIED 2 HAVE ME ACCEPT THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR AS I WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD 2 REMIND THEM THAT I REPORTED THIS 2 THEM WELL WITHIN MY 1ST YEAR, THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYING APPROPRIATE REPAIRS, AND NOW, THIS ENGINE WAS PROBABLY MISSING OTHER PARTS. I WAS HOLDING THEM 2 THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISE OF REPLACING MY ENGINE. THE CEO'S OFFICE HAS IT WELL DOCUMENTED YET THEY ARE GOING BACK ON THEIR PROMISE AND WANT ME 2 JUST KEEP AN UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE ENGINE. THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT OTHER VITAL PARTS AREN'T MISSING AND I DOUBT ANY OF THEM WOULD FEEL SAFE WITH THIS ENGINE. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED 2 OTHER ENGINE PARTS DUE 2 THIS EXTENSIVE PROLONGED OIL LOSS? THEY REFUSE 2 PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION, OR MY REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THEY ARE OFFERING ME INSTEAD 3 FREE OIL CHANGES FOR 6 YEARS OF WORRY, INCONVENIENCE, AND ENDURING THEIR COMPLACENCY WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10205211
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Mileage
6,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. TRACY CHEVROLET PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSTIC THAT SPANNED THREE YEARS. THE RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THAT THERE WAS POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE. IN 2004, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD LEVEL WAS MISSING A PART FROM THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. A GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT PROMISED TO PROVIDE A NEW ENGINE IF THE REPAIR TO THE CYLINDER DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THREE YEARS LATER, THE DEALER PERFORMED ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND FOUND YET ANOTHER PART MISSING FROM THE ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT ASKED GENERAL MOTORS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS PROMISED BUT THEY REFUSED TO COMPLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID
10188386
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Mileage
15,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 18, 2005

VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IN REVERESE

NHTSA ID
10129077
Incident
Jul 16, 2005
Mileage
91,140 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOUD NOISE WAS NORMAL. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10081875
Incident
Jun 28, 2002
Mileage
10,008 mi
EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Jun 17, 2004

WHY DOES THE MANUAL STATE THAT ONE CAN PULL UP TO 8700LBS. IF THE TAHOE CAN BARELY HANDLE 3500LBS? THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE THE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS GOING OUT, THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, AND HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ONCE LAST YEAR, THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT, THESE ARE ONLY THE PROBLEMS I CAN THINK OF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10078384
Incident
Jun 12, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2004

VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10064626
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2004

A LOUD EMBARRASSING AND ANNOYING INTERNAL ENGINE KNOCK. DEFECTIVE DUE TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING QUALITY CONSISTENCY PROBLEMS. HIGHER THAN NORMAL LEVELS OF WEAR RELATED MATERIALS IN OIL ANALYSIS. VERTICAL PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL SCUFFING/SCRATCHING OR SCORING ON THE HAMMERING (NOISY) CYLINDERS UPON VISUAL INSPECTION. REDUCED COMBUSTION CHAMBER COMPRESSION ON THE HAMMERING (NOISY) CYLINDERS. INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. INCREASED EXHAUST EMISSIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10060491
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
23,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2003

OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED SLUDGE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050422
Incident
Dec 11, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 5, 2003

NHTSA#00-V-343-000: CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA ID
10006583
Incident
Feb 5, 2003
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA ID
8024026
Incident
Nov 29, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 3, 2002

THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES' TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALAER. TS

NHTSA ID
8023583
Incident
Oct 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Nov 27, 2002

THE ROOF STRUT THAT THE HEADLINER ATTACHES TO IS PUNCHED TOO BIG FOR THE PLUGS THEY INSTALLED. GM HAS REPLACED THE HEADLINER, PLUGS, AND NOW WANT TO INSTALL FELT AROUND THE PLUD AND "RAM IT BACK IN" WHICH IS NOT A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT WAITING FOR THEM TO EITHER REPLACE THE STRUT OR THE CAR. I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE WITH THIS, CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO? DT

NHTSA ID
770188
Incident
Jul 15, 2001
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Jun 18, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO 3RD AND BACK AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE TRASMISSION CLUNKS WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND DOWN WHILE SHIFTING. *YH

NHTSA ID
566127
Engine
Filed May 3, 2001

I FEEL THAT I STOPPED THE VEHICLE JUST SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES, BECAUSE WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNING METAL AND PLASTIC WAS COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS COMPLETLY RED AND GLOWING FROM THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
744899
Incident
Apr 21, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .